[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[stuart thompson]

Originally Posted by bella

yep.

so here's a scenario.



now, let's look at the same scenario when spectators aren't allowed.



that's it.

no brainer, isn't it?

Or no public access to pits or paddock could sort that one too.

[Peter Mallett]

I think you missed the syntax of the underlying metaphor.

Exchange Bob's mate in the team with Bob's mate who he meets at the gate. I'm really beginning to worry about Bob BTW.

[bella]

considering people can't socially distance themselves outside a race track and wear a mask when they're asked to they've got balls all chance of doing so inside one. bob is a symptom of modern britain in that respect

[Peter Mallett]

So on top of Covid-19 he's got modern Britain? Poor sod.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by mark_l

He is an experienced driver, someone who is not connected to another team in BTCC so Speedworks will be able to be fully honest with him and not worry the information will end up with a rival team.

Darren can also develop the hybrid system without other teams crying foul about one driver having an unfair advantage/knowledge of the system when it comes in to the championship.

He will be working for TOCA and Cosworth not Speedworks. Speedworks are just supplying/running the car. As the system is being tested and developed for use of all teams, it would only be right for all teams to have access to any derived data, otherwise Speedworks will be at an unfair advantage when all teams have to use the system.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by bella

considering people can't socially distance themselves outside a race track and wear a mask when they're asked to they've got balls all chance of doing so inside one. bob is a symptom of modern britain in that respect

Once the doors are open to spectators, I reckon paddocks will be off limits to anyone but race team personnel. There won't be any pit walkabouts or autograph signings on dealer or trade stands either.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Yep definitely, but touring cars are of course very different to GTs. You wouldn't send a touring car driver to test out a new GT3 system?

Except maybe Sam Tordoff, Rory Butcher, Rob Collard, who all have recent GT3 experience. Turner is a top draw class act who clearly has no links to any active team. What better choice was there?

[bella]

Originally Posted by RS67

Once the doors are open to spectators, I reckon paddocks will be off limits to anyone but race team personnel. There won't be any pit walkabouts or autograph signings on dealer or trade stands either.

that's my understanding too, and the only sensible thing to do. still we'd be at risk of the entire industry being shut down because some numpty outside the paddock can't understand what their obligations are when on-site. it's much easier to maintain accountability when everyone present answers to a boss or supervisor.

the one thing that bothers me is enforcement - if they're going to have rules then who is going to enforce them? we see out there every day that nobody is enforcing public transport face covering rules and the like. rules are going to be ignored if there's no tangible consequences.

[Alfisti]

I guess we'll have to see, but I personally do not believe spectators will be a thing in quantity at least.

If a team provides their own VIP hospitality and feeds and toilets a number of guests temperature checked and showered in Domestos on entry that may be a thing.

But Joe Public on a grassy bank using hopelessly too few portaloos is asking for trouble.

We need to upgrade to be Cybermen. This may solve the problem...

[bella]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

...using hopelessly too few portaloos...

*sudden flashback to every visit to croft, ever*

[GT6]

One has to be optimistic, otherwise one might reach for the bottle. We will have racing this year and we will have at least some chance of watching it at the circuit.

[S griffin]

We’re still waiting for the toilets to open in a lot of public parks

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

We’re still waiting for the toilets to open in a lot of public parks

That sounds so wrong !!!!!!

[RS67]

Originally Posted by bella

that's my understanding too, and the only sensible thing to do. still we'd be at risk of the entire industry being shut down because some numpty outside the paddock can't understand what their obligations are when on-site. it's much easier to maintain accountability when everyone present answers to a boss or supervisor.

the one thing that bothers me is enforcement - if they're going to have rules then who is going to enforce them? we see out there every day that nobody is enforcing public transport face covering rules and the like. rules are going to be ignored if there's no tangible consequences.

All tracks have spectator Marshall's at BTCC events, it will be down to the circuits and TOCA to ensure they do their job and restrict peoples access. Even if it means being as tight as F1 with their electronic passes on the gates to the paddock and pit lane.

[bella]

my concern is more with the wearing of masks and social distancing. for example you have to wear a face covering on public transport but who’s policing it? the staff aren’t empowered to/aren’t comfortable with it, coppers in stations aren’t doing it (is it a civil matter not a law one maybe?). teams can police their own staff and work by their rules, but you’re not going to have minimum wage spectator marshals telling people to stand further apart or put their mask on. they struggle to tell people to obey the previous rules...

you’ll have the same issues of policing amongst spectators at sporting events but a massive public drama if there’s an outbreak.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by bella

my concern is more with the wearing of masks and social distancing. for example you have to wear a face covering on public transport but who’s policing it? the staff aren’t empowered to/aren’t comfortable with it, coppers in stations aren’t doing it (is it a civil matter not a law one maybe?). teams can police their own staff and work by their rules, but you’re not going to have minimum wage spectator marshals telling people to stand further apart or put their mask on. they struggle to tell people to obey the previous rules...

you’ll have the same issues of policing amongst spectators at sporting events but a massive public drama if there’s an outbreak.

On the beaches in Spain they are dividing the beaches up, only permitting so many people into each area. Similar could be done at race tracks. Instead of buying tickets for a grandstand seat, you just nominate which area of track you wish to view from. I still suspect tickets will have to be pre booked online or by phone and they will limit the number of tickets available at each meeting. There is currently a growing demand for drive in movies and gigs, more people could be encouraged to do that where trackside parking is available, especially as there are likely to be fewer car stands and hospitality etc.
Perhaps they will allow spectators on the banking along the outside of the Bombhole at Snetterton, I have never been able to fathom why they don't allow spectators along there instead of everyone closely packed around the esses.

[S griffin]

It all depends where and when they decide to allow spectators back. We still have just over a month till it starts, things can change, so we’ll see what Gow says.

Of course big circuits like Donington with lots of spectator areas would find it easier than other circuits

[redshoes]

[QUOTE=RS67;3983754Perhaps they will allow spectators on the banking along the outside of the Bombhole at Snetterton, I have never been able to fathom why they don't allow spectators along there instead of everyone closely packed around the esses.[/QUOTE]
The banking is very steep, and not really suitable to stand on. I assume it was a case that it needed to be that height to block the noise but only limited space, which meant a more gentle gradient wasn't possible.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Of course big circuits like Donington with lots of spectator areas would find it easier than other circuits

As mentioned much earlier in this thread, it's not the size of the spectator areas that is the problem, it's getting people in/out of the entrances and managing access to toilets, food vans and other pinch points.

[bella]

Originally Posted by RS67

On the beaches in Spain they are dividing the beaches up, only permitting so many people into each area. Similar could be done at race tracks. Instead of buying tickets for a grandstand seat, you just nominate which area of track you wish to view from. I still suspect tickets will have to be pre booked online or by phone and they will limit the number of tickets available at each meeting. There is currently a growing demand for drive in movies and gigs, more people could be encouraged to do that where trackside parking is available, especially as there are likely to be fewer car stands and hospitality etc.

all things i'm sure they're looking at and considering but redshoes is definitely right in that it's the pinch points that are the issue. msv and silverstone are perhaps better suited to bodging a solution because they've got more permanent toilet blocks, but both are significantly larger circuits, and whilst drive-in and park up on a bank motorsport would work for small numbers at certain circuits (including donington), imagine what a mess it'll be when it rains

it costs money to employ more spectator marshals, to pay people to come back from furlough to set out new areas, to pay for the raw materials to do so. and for what gain? a small number of spectators paying the same ticket price as they did pre-covid.

[BobJones]

Which team won't turn up at Donington, then?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Which team won't turn up at Donington, then?

Has Andy Neate not paid his bills?

[medius]

Originally Posted by BobJones

Which team won't turn up at Donington, then?

One team won't have its original roster of drivers from Media Day.

[S griffin]

How’s Bushell doing?

[RS67]

Originally Posted by bella

it costs money to employ more spectator marshals, to pay people to come back from furlough to set out new areas, to pay for the raw materials to do so. and for what gain? a small number of spectators paying the same ticket price as they did pre-covid.

It needn't cost anything at all for spectator marshalls, tracks can just do what Goodwood does, ask for volunteers and in exchange for a few hours marshalling, they get free entry and get to see the rest of the race meeting.

Buying and installing distancing measures is no different to what other businesses are having to layout for if they want to open their businesses again and protect people.